Guide Dog Buntie back to work after debilitating nerve damage

(Created: 27/08/2014 - Dog World Newspaper)

Guide Dog Buntie back to work after debilitating nerve damage


A SIX-year-old Labrador guide dog has returned to work only eight weeks after losing the use of her legs.

Buntie arrived at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) barely able to walk, but now she is back in action following intense and prolonged treatment which included hydrotherapy.

The complete loss of physical strength had made it impossible for Buntie to carry out any of her usual duties as a guide dog, and she had reverted to early ‘puppy-hood’, making it difficult for her to eat, drink and answer calls of nature.

When AHT vets first saw her she was stumbling on her front legs and having to shift her weight from side to side in order to remain balanced. Anita Shea, neurology and neurosurgery clinician, examined her and found that Buntie’s biggest abnormality was weakness on all four of her limbs. She also had decreased reactions to basic reflex tests, demonstrating that multiple nerves had stopped functioning properly.

"As with all neurological cases referred to the AHT, several initial tests were performed to ensure that there was no obvious cause for Buntie’s weakness elsewhere in her body,” Ms Shea said.

"We then performed further tests under general anaesthesia, where little needles were placed in her muscles and nerves to measure electrical activity. This showed the nerves were not properly stimulating the muscles, so biopsy samples of muscle and nerve were submitted to a large neuromuscular laboratory in San Diego for analysis to try to determine the cause of the problem.”

Toxin exposure

The results of the investigations did not suggest any sign of disease, leading the AHT team to suspect an unknown kind of toxin exposure, either poisoning or an allergic reaction, as the cause of Buntie’s sudden loss in muscle and nerve function. Unfortunately, this could not be cured by medication.

Physiotherapy was chosen as the best option to give Buntie a chance of recovery, enabling her to rebuild her strength through muscle and nerve stimulation. During her stay at the AHT’s Small Animal Clinic she underwent intense daily physiotherapy later complemented by a course of hydrotherapy treatment. Initially unable to support her own weight, the latter allowed Buntie to gain the necessary therapy in a weightless environment.

Following three weeks of pool sessions twice a week, Buntie progressed to the underwater treadmill to build muscle and improve the co-ordination and placement of her feet. Less than a month later Buntie’s strength rapidly increased, and soon she was able to stand up unaided and take small steps around the pool house.

With her resolved determination and support from both AHT hydrotherapists and her owners Buntie’s health continued to improve, and eight weeks after being referred to the AHT she resumed her role as a working guide dog.

"During her time at the AHT, Buntie became a firm favourite with all the staff involved in her care and recovery,” Ms Shea said. "She’s such a lovely dog; even in the early stages when she had difficulty in standing she was always positive and motivated with her tail constantly wagging!

"She was so inspiring, with her dogged determination to get back to the duties she was trained to do.”

Hydrotherapist Samantha Gould said: "I’m over the moon with how far Buntie has come in such a short time, she’s a true fighter. Giving in to her illness was never an option for her.

"She remained a happy and determined lady, which in no doubt stems from the remarkable way in which she was trained by Guide Dogs.”
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Poor Buntie - what a frightening thing to happen.

Thank heavens for her strength of character and the unremitting efforts of AHT to restore her to health - well done all of you

Glad she's feeling better!

That's a nice story. Glad she's recovered so well.